5-series - E39 as a potential daily driver

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E39 as a potential daily driver

Printed From: BMW Car Club Forum
Category: Cars & Registers
Forum Name: 5-series
Forum Description: Discussion forum for the 5-series
URL: https://www.bmwccgbforum.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=16621
Printed Date: 26 Mar 2026 at 9:05pm
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Topic: E39 as a potential daily driver

Posted By: PhilBM
Subject: E39 as a potential daily driver
Date Posted: 07 Jul 2025 at 5:25pm

Hi,

With a change of school my daughter will need taking to a near local village (between 3-4 miles) to be dropped off so that she can catch her school bus from September. I'm considering an E39 as the daily

car of choice, as my current diesel won't like such a short journey.

I've been looking at the used ones on the market and is there anything specific I should be looking out for? Rust in the sills seems to be a common one as well as ensuring the cooling system has been overhauled. Ideally I'd like a manual so that in future my daughter could practice driving (rather than letting her loose in the E30), but they are fairly rare and of the ones I've seen are not in great condition, so I'm not adverse to an auto. The conclusion I've come to is buy on condition and how well it's been maintained rather than engine size, and whether it has leather it a sport model etc.

Any useful advise though would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

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87 E30 325i Sport
15 F15 X5 40d M Sport
18 F32 420i M Sport coupe

Replies:

Posted By: NickDE
Date Posted: 07 Jul 2025 at 8:50pm

In general I would agree with you. I think however that I would look for something like an F30 where there should be a bigger choice.

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Darkness gone, Tronic gone, Solo gone, DBA gone, go Darknes2, go Frozen, go Black Pearl, go Echo. RIP The Vibrator

Posted By: Norrie
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2025 at 7:25pm

E39 argued as best car BMW Ever made. I bought one new in 1998 they were quite expensive then.

Bought another for 500 pounds kept it for 10 years 523i auto, sold it for 700 to my in house accountant, he kept it 2 years sold to a customer of our who is a racing driver and track instructor, must have 250K on the clock and still going. good car.

Posted By: PhilBM
Date Posted: 09 Jul 2025 at 1:31pm

Thanks for the replies, I'm not really looking for anything more modern as my wife currently has an F32 420i coupe and I have an F15 X5. So hopefully I can find the right one as it does sound like that can still handle the daily grind.

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87 E30 325i Sport
15 F15 X5 40d M Sport
18 F32 420i M Sport coupe